The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has laid a foundation stone for the construction of girl’s dormitory at Juba Orphanage.

The building will allow young girls at the orphanage to sleep in a separate room from the boys. The five-room building is estimated to cost $250,000.

The offer will provide protection for children at the orphanage, said UNHCR Representative in South Sudan Cosmas Chanda. UNHCR staff also donated foodstuffs to the orphanage.

“My colleagues have put together certain food items that we are donating to this establishment. The items includes include sugar, cooking oil beans, maize floor blankets and sleeping mats.”

The Central Equatoria State Minister of Gender and Social Development, Mary Apai, urged the UN agency to continue to support the Juba orphanage.

Juba Orphanage is a home to 78 boys and girls and they share the same sleeping room due to lack of enough space.

Some of the children have parents who are not able to cater their needs.